TACOMA — After three trials, a Pierce County man convicted of killing one woman, paralyzing another and killing her unborn baby in 1991 has been sentenced to 74 years in prison.
The News Tribune reported that Larry Tarrer, 40, was sentenced Friday. A jury earlier this month convicted him of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and manslaughter.
Prosecutors say Tarrer shot Lavern Simpkins and Claudia McCorvey because he suspected someone had stolen drugs from him. Simpkins died. McCorvey was seven months pregnant and was left paralyzed. Her baby was delivered by emergency Caesarean section, but died a half hour later.
The prosecutor’s office says Tarrer pleaded guilty in 1991 but withdrew his plea. He was tried in 2009 but the jury couldn’t agree. In 2010, he was re-tried and convicted but the conviction was overturned on appeal. His third trial began 23 years after the shooting.
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